Rail anchor



Dec. 3, 1935. F. WA CQOPER. 2,022,880

RAIL ANCHOR Filed July 5l, 1929 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STTES iDATENT FFICE RAIL ANCHOR Application July 31, 1929, Serial No. 382,426

59 Claims. (C1. 23S-329) seat; and a looped spring member including a 10 long upper arm hooked at its free end and a short lower arm adapted to rest upon the clamp member seat, the looped end of said spring member being adapted to be wedged between the clamp member seat and one iiange of a rail base and the opposite hooked end being adapted to engage the other flange of the rail base, whereby the two members are mutually supporting when operatively associated with a rail. When the two parts are dissociated from a rail, they are incapable of maintaining an assembly in operative relation to one another but require to be brought together and assembled one to the other in process of assembly to a rail.

The primary object oi the present invention is to provide a modification of the form of the anchor enabling a semi-permanent substantially rigid factory assembly of the parts in operative relation to one another, so that they become a unitary structure for shipment, distribution and application to a rail, the said unitary structure being adapted for application to a rail without relative adjustment of its members.

A further object is to provide for factory as- .sembly ci the anchor parts in a manner which will amount to permanent rigid connection of the parts so far as handling, shipment, distribution and the initial step of application to a rail are concerned but which, upon imposition of sufiicient force, will permit of relative adjustment of the parts for the succeeding steps of application to a rail and also will permit of ready separation of the parts if it should be necessary to substitute a part of different size.

A still further object is to facilitate application of the anchor to a rail and removal of the anchor from a rail by provision of means preventing recoiling movement of the spring member.

Another object is the provision of features of formation and proportion of the clamp member to prevent strain under certain abnormal conditions of service and to ensure a predetermined strength, regardless oi the thickness of rail base Vfor which the clamp is adapted.

Various other objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent to thosel skilled in the art from the following description.

According to this invention, a U-shaped clamp member of the type disclosed in my former patents is modied by a convergence of the adjacent 5 surfaces of the arms suiicient to cause the same to tightly embrace the upper arm of the spring member in its transverse direction and hold the lower arm tightly in contact with the web or seat portion of the clamp, so that a semi-permal0 nent factory assembly may be effected. The relation of the clamp arm convergence to the web is preferably such that the members are held in relative positions suitable for application to a rail without preliminary adjustment. The clamp l5 member is further modified by provision of an upward projection at the lower or outer end of the seat portion, which projection co-operates with the upper or inner end of the seat portion and the aforesaid convergence of the clamp arms 2O to so position the spring member in the clamp, in process of factory assembly, that the spring member and clamp are positioned and held in proper relation for easy application as a unit to the rail. The position of the outer orclosed end of the rail notches in the clamp arms isA so determined that the lowest point of the clamp will in service lie inside the vertical plane of the rail base edge and the shape of the closed ends of the notches is such that for any size of notch the 30 minimum distance from the notches to the outer edges of the clamp arms will be constant.

In the drawing which illustrates that embodiment of the invention now preferred but to the exact details and proportions of which the in- 35 vention is not confined, except as herein set forthz- Fig. l is an elevation of the anchor in position on a rail as seen looking in the direction of rail length.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the anchor in position on a rail as seen looking transversely of the rail from the left hand side of Figure l.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the anchor in the same aspect as Figure 1, showing the factory assembly of the anchor parts and the manner of application as a unit to the rail.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the determination ci. the form oi rail notches in the clamp. Referring more particularly to the drawing, Il

designates a railroad rail having the usual base flanges l2 and I3, while i4 designates a tie supporting the rail and l5 a tie plate interposed bef tween the tie and rail.

` flange.

The anchor comprises a clamp member I6 and a spring holding member il therefor.

The spring member is formed of, a preferably flat bar of spring metal bent atwise intermediate its ends to provide a substantially circularly curved loop portion i8, a long upper arm le and a short lower arm 2i! converging toward the upper arm. The extremities of the upper and lower arms terminate in upwardly turned hook portions 2l and 22. The long arm is formed with a reversely curved portion 23 adjacent the loop and a substantially straight portion 2d between the reversely curved portion 23 and the hook 2|, the curvature being such that arm curves toward and then away from the short arm. The short arm is substantially straight between the loop i8 and the hook 22 and lies in such angular relation to the long arm that the tip of the hook 22 is spaced somewhat from the long arm, when the member l is relaxed as shown in Figure 3.

The two arms and the lopp constitute a resilient structure, wedge-shaped in its vertical aspect, of which the loop constitutes the butt or large end. The hook 2| stands at an angle oi approximately 95 to the straight portion 2li of the long arm and the hook 22 stands at such angle to the short arm that when the arms are sprung together the hook 22 will stand substantially normal to the general line of the long arm, as shown in Figure 1.

The clamp member is U-shaped, as shown in Figure 2, preferably formed by bending a flat bar of metal, and has a web portion 25 forming a seat for the spring member and two arms 2E each notched in one edge as at 2l for reception of a rail base flange, which as illustrated is the flange l2.

The vertical depth' of the notches is such that the thinnest rail base flange for which the clamp is adapted will be a tight fit in the notches without bottoming. As now preferred, the bottom edges v28 of the notches 2l lie at an angle of 30 to the plane of the web 25 and the upper inclined edges 29 of the notches lie at a slightly more acute angle to the lower edges than the angle between the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base flange for which the anchor is adapted, so that the clamp will grip the rail base flange most tightly as far as possible in from the edge of the ilange thereby to avoid the possibility of breaking the base ange. In other words, the grip of the jaws formed by the notches 2l is concentrated adjacent their free extremities and there may even be avery slight clearance between the upper notch edges and the top of the rail base ange close to the edge of the 'Ihe notches extend a short distance outwardly of an imaginary vertical plane, designated A, rising from the lower outer edge of the web 25, as shown in Figure l, the distance of the outer ends B of the notches from this plane being such that the edge of the thickest rail base flange for which the clamp is adapted will not lie inside the plane A when the clamp is properly applied. Or, conversely, the lower outer edge of the web `25 will lie in or inside ci the vertical plane of the ange edge. This disposition is for the purpose of ensuring against outward turning movement of the lower end of, the clamp in the event of the same pounding in frozen ballast. The outer ends 30 of the notches are formed perpendicular to the bottom edges 28 and are therefore parallel to the plane A. The distance of the notch ends 3d from theplane A is the Vsame for all depths of notches, as shown in the diagram of Figure 4, which illustrates -two extremes of notch dimension. The

` straight line formation of the notch ends 38 at tween the clamp arms.

between the notch ends and the outer edges of the clamp arms would decrease as the vertical depth of the notches increased, as will be readily seen by comparing thesemicircular end C with the line B drawn parallel with the outer edge of the clamp arm. Such a semi-circular notch formation is useless in that it will not provide for any greater penetration of the rail flange into the clamp and is detrimental in that it will cause a clamp notched to fit a thin flange whereas any change in strength should be in the direction of increase.

The upper edges of the notches may be slightly chamfered or rounded ofi where they meet lthe inner edges` of the clamp arms, as shown at 3l.

The adjacent surfaces of the clamp arms converge toward the free ends of the arms and the convergence may extend through as much as desired of the length and width of the arms and exists by reason of. a special disposition or special iormationof one or both of the arms. It is now preferred that the convergence be conned to a small part of the length of the arms and located a short distance below the notches, being effected by an inward displacement or oiset of each arm in a band across the entire width of the arms parv allel with lower edges of the notches, all as shown at 32, but the convergence may be otherwise provided. Between the converging surface p0rtions 3| and the web 25, the distance between the arms is greater than the width of the upper arm of the spring member, so that the spring member will be freely movable. The amount of convergence is such that the distance between the arms is reduced to slightly less than the width of the spring member, so that when the spring member 40 is forced between the converging portions of the arms, it will be very'tightly embraced bythe arms. The lower or outer end of the web 25 is provided with an upward projection 33, which may be most conveniently formed by upward displacement of the metal through as much as desired of the distance between the arms. The vertical distance between the top of this projection and the plane of the lower edges of the notches 2l' is preferably not greater than the maximum vertical measure of the loop portion i8 of the spring member and may with advantage be slightly less. The upper surface .oi the projection is so formed that it will not be contacted by the loop i8 of the spring member-when the 55.

parts are in operative position on a rail.

The clamp and spring member are assembled in the factory by passing the hooked end of the long arm of the spring member between the clamp arms close to the web from the unnotched edgesV of the arms toward the notched edges. Owing to the spacing of the clamp arms adjacent the web, the spring member enters freely and advances without resistance until the small end of the wedge-shaped structure is well 'oe- 65 The increasing vertical depth of the wedge-shaped loop structure combined with the convergent relation of the oifsets to the web 25 causes the upper'arm of the spring member adjacent the loop to engage the Y offsets or converging surface portions 32 of the arms and causes the lower arm to engage the projection 3.3 and the web adjacent its upper or inner edge. Upon further advance of the spring member, its wedge-shaped portion becomes vertically wedged between the offsets 32 and the clamp web 25 and the upward thrust thus given to the spring member causes the curved portion of its upper arm to be firmly wedged between the converging offsets or surface portions 32 of the clamp arms. In the factory assembly the spring member is advanced through the clamp member until the end of the short arm hook 22 is approximately flush with the inner edges of the clamp arms, as shown in Figure 3. The Vertical and horizontal grip of the clamp member on the spring member is suilcient to hold the two parts rigidly in the established relations against greater force tending to alter the relation than will ordinarily be encountered in handling, shipment and distribution for application. In short, the two parts are so rigidly related that for all practica-l purposes of handling, they are as much a unit as if formed of a single piece of metal. Yet the parts of the unit are capable of relative movement for adjustment to a rail or, if necessary, for separation. It will be seen from Figure 3 that the point of maximum penetration of the upper arm i9 between the offsets 32 is substantially opposite to or vertically above the engagement of the lower arm 2E) with the web projection 33 that the curved portion 23 opposite the end of the short arm is entered only part way between the offsets or converging surfaces 32, so that the pinch of the clamp arms tends to force the arm I9 down and to swing the spring member downwardly around the pivotal point of its engagement with the projection 33 and thus press the end of the short arm against the clamp web. This wedging or camming eiect of the converging surfaces 32 causes the spring member to assume the relation to the clamp member illustrated in Figure 3 during insertion in the clamp member and also serves to maintain this relation which is that desired as a preliminary' to application to a rail. As compared with the earlier farms of this type of anchor, the peculiar construction herein disclosed enables the preliminary steps of application to a rail to become a factory operation.

The semi-rigid factory assembled unit shown in Figure 3 is applied to a rail by manually passing the projecting spring member arm 2li beneath a rail while holding the clamp, so that notches thereof receive the edge of one rail base flange, one arm of the clamp member being held in close engagement with the side of a tie. This manual application may be effected without resistance to approximately the extent shown .in Figure 3, that until the upward swing of the advancing end of the unit caused by the notches taking position on one base ange brings the end of the hook 2i against the bottom of the other base flange close to the edge thereof. The application is continued forcibly, as by striking the projecting loop is with a hammer. This application of force urges the spring member to advance through the clamp and is also transmitted to the clamp principally by frictional engagement of the lower arm till with the inclined web of the clamp. The transmission of force to the clamp being entirely beneath the rail, the lower end of the clamp is swung inwardly and upwardly about a pivotal point at the engagement of the corner Si with the upper surface of the base flange and causes the clamp to move to its final relation to the rail, as shown in Figure 1. This swinging movement relieves the tendency of the clamp corners 3| to bite into the flange and, if desired, further relief may be oband thrusts the hook 2I against the bottom of V the rail base iiange I3 and causes the long arm of the spring member to be iiexed with straightening tendency, so that by the combined compression and arm flexion, the space between the short arm hook 22 and the long arm is closed A and thereafter upward movement of the hook 22 due to climbing on the inclined web and tc upward swing of the clamp is transmitted in its entirety to the long arm. It has been stated that movement is transmitted from the spring member to the clamp member chiefly through the bottom arm of the spring member, and this is due to the increasing inclination of the web, as the clamp swings, and to the fact that the upward swing for a time raises the inner ends of the offsets 32 at about the same rate that the upper arm of the spring member rises, As the spring member advances through the clamp, the resistance increases by reason cf further compression of the loop between the projection 33 and the bottom of the rail base flange I2 and also by reason of the increasing inclination of the web due to the inward ,wing of the clamp. Before any very great increase of resistance is manifest the point of maximum depth of thel loop passes the top of the projection 33 and the loop commences to travel down the inwardly facing incline of the projection and by expansion maintains its contact with the bottom surface of the rail base flange i2, This downward movement tends to offset the resistance to further advance due to the increase the inclination of the spring path, and also tendsy to cause the entire spring member to swing in a vertical plane about its line of support at the inner edge of the web, so that the hoolr 2l is thrust upwardly against the bottom of the rail base ange I Ii close to the edge thereof with additional force and, as actual upward movement of the hook is prevented, the swinging tendency of the spring member causes additional flexion of the arm I9 with further straightening tendency. It will be seen that the projection it has, among others, three important and sequential functions, namely; rst, to initially facilitate advance of the spring member by reducing the inclination of its path of advance and the rate of convergence of this path toward the offsets second, to determine a path of advance for the hook 2| which will defer its upward thrust and the consequent flexion of the arm I e until almost the end of the advance; and third, to form an abutment or stop outside the spring member which absorbs any tendency of the tensioned spring member to recoil and prevents the recoil occurring. The combined advance of the spring member through the clamp and the bodily inward movement and inward swing of the clamp member as aforesaid cause the hook 2l to pass the edge of the rail base iiange and to be raised into engagement with the edge surface of the hangs by the upward swing of the spring arm and held by the tension thereof. When this occurs, driving of the spring member is stopped and the applicaauf:

. anchor corners pounding on rock or frozen baltion is completed by sharply striking toward the rail on the upper outer corners of the clamp member.

These final blows serve the triple purpose of setting the clamp member tightly on the rail base flange (if it has not been already tightly set during driving of the spring member); of causing the spring member if it has been overdriven to recoil so that the hook 2| is 'drawn very tightly against the flange edge; and of causing the spring member to adjust itself to the clamp, so as to relieve any uncoiling tension in the loop I8 occasioned by resistance to advance of the short arm over the web. In the final position, the long arm Yis flexed from its normal relaxed curvature and the short arm is flexed from its normal relaxed straight form and is pressed upwardly against the long arm by the web. The resultant of all the forces acting is such that the long lower edges of the notches are held throughout their lengths in engagement with the bottom of the rail base, thus affording a very stable support to the anchor and very material resistance against either inward or outward swing, The contact of the short arm with the Web is confined substantially to the inner edge portion of the web and thn loop is out of Contact with the projection 33, so that the resiliency of the arm is added to that of the loop and the loop is thus protected against possible damage by being pinched between the web and the rail base. The particular location of the notches relative to the lower corners of the clamp ensures location of these corners not outside the vertical plane of the liange edge, so that in the event of the last no outward swinging tendency results. The slight outward tilt of the hook 2t causes it to press against the lower part of the rail base edge surface, so that the load on the hook is close to the root of the hook and the possibility of fracture or outward bending is reduced to a minimum.

The vertical and horizontal pinching of the yspring member in the clamp and the existence of the projection 33 produce, in addition to the effects already described, the further effect of holding the spring member against recoil during driving on and against springing out of the clamp during removal or, if the hook 2| is accidentally driven down out of engagement with the flange edge. As already stated, the distance from the top of the projection 33 to the bottom edges of the notches, that is, to the bottom surface of the rail base, is less than the vertical depth of the loop i8, so that the projection is a positive stop outside the spring member to prevent or limit recoil movement and this preventive effect is increased by the fact that tendency to recoiling .movement includes downward movement of the loop on the web, thus increasing the effective height of the projection. The net result is that the anchor may be removed as a unit as Well as applied as a unit. The projection 33 together with the remainder of the web denne a depression or recess into which the spring member loop will sink or expand thus partially relieving the tension of the loop. The web may be regarded as formed with elevated end portions and a depressed or downward bowed intermediate portion.

For reasons of simplicity in manufacture, the convergence of the clamp arms has been confined to a narrow horizontal band across each arm, but it will be obvious that the vertical depth of the converging surfaces may be increased to any extent desired and that the converging surfaces need not extend continuously from edge to edge of the arms nor need the special formation causing the convergence be produced in both arms. 'I'he direction taken by the arms above the notches is not material to the holding effect of the converging surfaces.

So far as the mere semi-permanent assembly of the parts to resist separation is concerned, 10 the existence of the projection 33 is not material nor is-this projection material to the establishment and maintenance of the desired relation of the parts for application purposes, since this effect is produced. by the relation of arm convergence to the points of support of the spring member on the web and, by suitably positioning or forming the converging arm surfaces, the desired effect may be produced with any lower projection and, obviously, the height of the projection may beV reduced to nothing. The projection is, however, necessary to facilitate application by reducing the inclination of the path of the spring member.

While the invention is directed primarily to 25 the production of .a unitary structure, it will be understood that the members need not be assembled prior to application to a rail but that the clamp member may be applied to one base flange of a rail irst and the spring member then passed through it into engagement with the other base flange. In such case, the projection 33 and the converging surface portions will serve to facilitate the operation and to prevent recoil of the spring member as already described. 35

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

1. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable members adapted to grippingly embrace a rail base between them, the said members betf ing capable of forcible assembly separate from a rail into a unit structure ready for application to a rail, one of said members being in embracing engagement with the other member and exerting a contractive holding pressure on saidother member and said other member exerting an expansive holding pressure on the first member, the members when so 4assembled being diflicultly separable and diicultly movable from their positions rela- A, tive to one another. 50 f' 2. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member anda spring member disposed in approximately its normal operative relation to the clamp member passing between and in close frictional engagement with the arms of the clamp member, said members exerting pressure one upon the other whereby the members are releasably connected into a unit.

3. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including arms and a connecting web in combination with a spring member in compression between said arms and in compression between an arm and the web and in such close frictional engagement with the arms and web that the members are difticultly movable relatively to one one another by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors.

4. In a rail anchor, a U-shape'd clamp member, l including arms and a web located between the arms, in combination with a spring member looped at one end and passing between the arms of the clamp member with the axis of loop curvature normal to the clamp member arms, the loop of said spring member being, when the members L accesso are assembled separate from a rail, in compression between the clamp member arms and web' and in such close frictional engagement with the clamp member arms as to be held against separation therefrom by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors.

5. In a rail anchor, a U-shapedclamp member including arms and a connecting web in combination with a spring member looped at one end and passing between the clamp' member arms in contact with the web and with the axis of loop curvature normal to the clamp member arms, the lsaid spring member being under pressure by and between the clamp member arms and exerting expansiva pressure upon and between the clamp member arms and web whereby said springme'mber is held against separation from and' movement relative to the clamp member by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors.

6. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped' clamp member including arms and a connecting web in combination with a spring member looped at one end and passing between the clamp member arms in contact with the web, the said members being positioned relatively to one another in readiness for from the web, in combination with a generallyv wedge-shaped spring member movable lengthwise between the clamp member arms and adapt`ed',.by wedging engagement with the web, to be forced into close frictional engagement with the converging arm surfaces.

8. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including arms and a connecting web, .the said arms having adjacent surfaces converging, away from the4 web, in combination with a generally wedge-shaped spring member movable length!- wise between the clamp member arms and adapted, by wedging engagement with the web to be,` forced into close frictional engagement with the converging arm surfaces, the relation of't'he arm` convergence to the web being such as to reatively position the members, in course of springfmembe movement through the clamp member, in r'ea'di.- ness for application to a rail.

9. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including arms and a connecting web, the

said arms having adjacent surfaces converging.

away from the web, in combination with-a generally wedge-shaped spring member movable lengthwise between the clamp member arms and adapted, by wedging engagement with the web, to be forced into close frictional engagement with the converging arm surfaces, the convergence of the arms to a predetermined distance .apart being closer to the web at one edge of the armsY than at the other edge.

lO. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamplrmemberl including arms and a web connecting the arms, the adjacent surfaces of the said arms `convergfrom the vweb between the web and` arm notches, in combination with a retaining member in frictional engagement with the web and the converging arm surfaces.

l1. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched at one edge to embrace ,a rail base fiange and a web connecting the arms, the said arms being inwardly oifset between the web and notches thereby forming arm surfaces converging away from the web, in combination with a retaining member in frictional engagement with the web and the converging arm surfaces.

l2. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including arms and a web connecting the arms, the said arms being inwardly offset at an acute angle to the web, therebyforming amr surfaces converging with respect to one another and to the web, in combination with a retaining member movable intc frictional engagement with the web and the converging arm surfaces.

13. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one rail base flange and a web connecting the arms vand disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, in combination with a spring member including a wedge-shaped end portion adapted to be compressed between the web and the botto-m of a rail base and an upward projection at the end of the web farthest from the notches adapted to engage the spring member in course of insertion and compel it to assume an angular relation to the clamp member different from the relation it occupies in the operative assembled relation of the members, thereby to facilitate application to a rail.

.1.4. A rail anchor clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base anda web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and notches with surface portions converging away from the web, in combination with a spring member including an upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and converging arm portions, and the width of the upper arm of the spring member being in such relation to the distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member will, upon passage between the clamp member arms, enter into such close frictional engagement with the web and converging arm surfaces that the two members will be diflicultly separable by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors, whereby the members will constitute a unit for these purposes.

l5. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of `a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an.

acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said arm's being formed intermediate the web and notches with surface portions converging away from the web, in combination with a spring member including an upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms .and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of comprising a U-shaped n theother rail base flange, the distance betweenthe remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and converging arm portions, and the width of the upper arm of the spring member being in such relation to the distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring m'ember will, upon passage between the clamp member arms, enter into such close frictional engagement with the web and converging arm surfaces that the two members will be immovable relatively to one another by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors, whereby the members will constitute a unit for these purposes.

16. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and notches with surface portions converging away from the web, the distance between the converging surfaces of the arms being uniform in a plane parallel with the plane of the lower notch edges, in combination with a spring member including a downwardly bowed upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and converging arm portions, and the width of the upper arm' of the spring member being in such relation to the distancey between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member will, upon passage between the clamp member arms, enter into such close frictional engagement with the web and converging arm surfaces that the two members will be duiiicultly separable by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors, whereby the members will constitute a unit for these purposes, the form 0f the spring member in relation to the web and to the converging clamp arm surfaces serving to position the members relatively to one another in readiness for application to a rail, from which relative positions in the unit structure the members will be diiiicultly movable by said forces owing to the aforesaid frictional engagement.

1'7. A rail anchor comprising a Ushaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one fiange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said web including an upward projection at the edge thereof remote from the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and'notches with surface portions converging away from the web,

the distance between the converging surfaces of the arms being uniform in a plane parallel with the plane of the lower notch edges, in combination with a spring member including a downwardly bowed upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and Aconverging arm portions, and the width ofthe aosiesoV upper` arm of--thespring member being in such relation to the distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member will, upon passage between the clamp member arms, enter into such close frictional engagement with theweb and converging arm surfaces that the two members will be difcultly separable by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and" distribution of rail anchors, whereby the members will constitute a unit for these purposes, the form of the spring member in relation to the web and to the converging clamp arm surfaces serving to position the members relatively to one another in readiness for application to a rail, from which relative positions in the unit structure the members will be diiicultly movable by said forces owing to the aforesaid frictional engagement.

18. A structure according to claim 17, in which the distance between the top of the web projection and the plane of the lower notch edges is not greater than the outside diameter of the spring member loop portion.

19. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the armsV and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and notches with surface portions converging away from the web, in combination with a spring member located between the arms of the clamp member and including an upper arm, a lower arm inciining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an :i

upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and converging arm portions, and the width of the upper arm of the spring member being in such relation to distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member is in such close frictional engagement with the web and converging clamp arm surfaces that the two members are diflicultly separable by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors and constitute a unit structure for these purposes.

20. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle tothe lower edges of the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and notches with' surface portions converging away from the web, in combination with a spring member located between the arms of the clamp member and including an upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the 'distance between the Web and converging arm portions, and the width of the upper arm of the spring member being in such relation to distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member is in such close frictional engagement with the web and converging clamp arm surfaces that the two members are immovable relatively to one another by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors and constitute a rigid unit structure for these purposes.

2l. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and notches with surface portions converging away from the web, the distance between the converging surfaces of the arms being uniform in a plane parallel with the plane of the lower notch edges, in combination with a spring member located between the arms of the clamp member and including a downwardly bowed upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent end of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the isop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base ange, the distance between the remote surfaces oi the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and the converging arm portions, and the Width of the upper arm of the spring member being in such relation to the distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member is in such close frictional engagement with the web and converging clamp arm surfaces that the two members are immovable relatively to one another by the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors and constitute a rigid unit structure for these purposes, in which the form of the spring member in relation to the web and to the converging clamp arm surfaces positions the members relatively to one another in readiness for application to a rail and from which relative positions in the unit structure the members are immovable by the said forces owing to the aforesaid frictional engagement.

22. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange o a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, said web including an upward projection at the edge thereof remo-te from the notches, said arms being formed intermediate the web and notches with surface portions converging away from the web, the distance between the converging surfaces of the arms being uniform in a plane parallel with the plane of the lower notch edges, in combination with a member located between the arms of the clamp member and including a downwardly bowed upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent end of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base ilange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation tc the stance between the web and the conversing a portions, and the width of the upper arm or" the spring member being in such relation to the distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring meinber is in such close frictional engagement with the web and converging clamp arm surfaces that the two members are immovable relatively to one another by the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors and constitute a rigid unit structure for these purposes, in which the form of the spring member in relation to the web and to the converging clamp arm surfaces positions the members relatively to one another in readiness for application to a rail and from which relative positions in the unit structure the members are inimovable by the said forces owing to the aforesaid frictional engagement.

23. A rail anchor comprising a i-shaped clamp member including arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange oi a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the lower edges of the notches, the said arms being inwardly offset between the web and notches at lines parallel with the lower edges of the notches, thereby forming arm surfaces converging away from the web, in combination with a spring member including an upper arm, a lower arm inclining toward the upper arm, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the end of the upper y arm opposite the loop adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the distance between the remote surfaces of the spring member arms being in such relation to the distance between the web and converging arm portions, and the width of the upper arm of the spring member being in such relation to the distance between the converging clamp arm surfaces that the spring member will, upon passage between the clamp member arms, enter into such close frictional engagement with the web and converging arm surfaces that the two members will be difcultly separable by the forces ordinarily encountered in handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors, whereby the members will constitute a unit for these purposes.

24. In a rail anchor, a spring member including upper and lower arms and a clamp member including a pair of arms adapted to embrace the spring member arms and including opposite portions spaced apart less than the width of the upper spring member arm, whereby the upper arm will be tightly embraced upon location between the said opposite portions of the clamp member arms, the said ciamp member arms being, at the 1ocations which will be engaged by the lower spring member arm when the upper is tightly embraced as aforesaid, spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the lower spring member arm.

25. In a rail anchor, a spring member including upper and lower arms and a clamp member including a pair of arms adapted to embrace the spring member arms and including opposite portions spaced apart lees than the width of the upper spring member arm, whereby the upper will be tightly embraced upon location between the said opposite portions of the clamp member arms, and further opposite portions spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the spring member arms, whereby the spring member is freely movable between said further clamp arm portions.

26. In a rail anchor, a spring member including relatively inclined upper and lower arms and a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms, in combination with a clamp member including a pair of arms adapted to embrace the spring member arms and a web connecting the arms, the said clamp member arms being formed to provide opposite portions located at a distance from the web and spaced apart less than the width of the upper spring member arm and being also formed with further opposite portions located between said rst named portions than the width of the spring member arms Where..

spacing of the web from said first named clamp member arm portions eing such that, upon advance of the spring member small end rst between the clamp member arms, the upper spring member arm will engage tightly between the rst 10.' named clamp arm portions and the lower arm will closely engage the web.

27. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including a pair of arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and %',Yrv a web connecting the arms, in combination with a spring member locate; between the clamp member arms and including upper and lower converging arms, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the l free end of the upper arm adapted to engage the.

edge of the other rail base ilange, and means on the clamp member holding the spring member in such relation to the clamp member as will pery mit the two members to be manually moved as a unit into nearly their operative relation to a rail.

28. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including a pair of arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base :and a web connecting the arms, in combination with a spring member located between the clamp member arms and including upper and lower converging arms, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned ghook at the freeend of the upper arm adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange and means on the clamp member holding the spring member in such relation to the clamp Y,member as will permit the two members to be "manually moved as a unit into nearly their operative relations to a rail, the said means being adapted to cause an upward swinging movement of the hooked end or" the spring member upon advance thereof through the clamp member Lthereby to raise the hook into operative engagement with the edge of the rail base flange.

29. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including a pair of arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms, in combination with a spring member located between the clamp member arms and including upper and lower converging arms, a loopportion connecting the `.divergent ends of the arms and an upturned 'hook at the free end of the upper arm adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, said spring member being adapted for advance through the clamp member into operative engagement with a rail and for flexion in course of advance, and means engaging the spring member loop and holding the spring member against retreating movement through the clamp member due to reflex action of the spring member.

30. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including a pair of arms each notched in one edge to embrace one ange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms, in combination with a spring member located between the clamp member arms and including upper and lower con- Vverging arms, a loop portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms and an upturned hook at the free end of the upper arm adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, and an upward projection on the edge of said web remote from the notches positioned to cause afoza'ss flexion of the spring member during advance through the clamp member into operative relation to a rail, the said projection being positioned to be disengaged by the spring member when in operative relation to a rail.

31. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member comprising a pair of arms, each notched to embrace one flange of a rail base, and a web connecting the arms and inclined relatively to the adjacent edges of the notches, in combination with a spring member comprising an upper arm, a loop portion at one end of said arm, a lower arm inclining from the loop toward the upper arm and an` upturned hook at the free end of the upper arm adapted to engage the edge of the other rail base flange, the lower arm being, in the assembled position of the anchor on a rail, in engagement with the web only atand near that edge of the web adjacent the notches, and

an upward projection from the web at that end s thereof remote from the notches positioned to be engaged by the lower arm during movement of the spring member into operative relation to a rail and to be disengaged by the lower arm during the operative relation thereof to a rail.

32. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including a pair of arms each notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms and disposed at an acute angle to the adjacent edges of the notches, and an upward projection from that Y the upper edges of said notches being disposed` at an acute angle to the adjacent edges of the arms and being chamfered adjacent the arm edges.

35. A rail anchor comprising means for grip:V

ping one flange of a, rail base, and a retaining member movable in the direction of its length into spring clamping engagement with said gripping member by reason of resilient pressure exr erted by the gripping member and having a loop portion coacting with the gripping member and adapted to press upwardly against the bottom of the rail to exert pressure on the gripping member tending to turn it about an axis eX- tending longitudinally of the rail.

36. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a jaw for gripping the top sur- `face of one base flange of the rail and a retaining member having a loop portion, said retaining length relative to the gripping member but in its fully assembled position has a spring clamping engagement with the gripping member by reason G of resilient pressure exerted by the gripping memmember being movable freely for a portion of its ber, movable transversely of the rail into locking engagement with the edge of the other base flange and positioned to exert a rocking pressure on said gripping member to force the said jaw into tight gripping engagement with said top surface of the base ange.

37. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a pair of jaws for gripping the top surface of one base flange of the rail and a retaining member having a loop portion, said retaining member being movable freely for a portion of its length relative to the gripping member but in its fully assembled position has a spring clamping engagement with and between said jaws, movable transversely of the rail into locking engagement with the edge of the other base flange and positioned to exert a rocking pressure on said gripping member to force the said jaws into tight gripping engagement with said top surface oi said base flange.

38. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with pairs of jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail and a retaining member having a loop portion, said retaining member being movable lengthwise between said jaws into spring clamping engagement with said gripping member jaws, provided with locking means for engagement with the other base iiange, and arranged to press upwardly adjacent said locking means against the bottom of the rail to rock said jaws into gripping engagement with said base iiange engaged thereby.

39. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member having a loop portion, said member being movable in the direction of its length into spring clamping engagement between the jaw portions and held clamped therebetween by the resilient pressure exerted by said jaw portions and movable into locking engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base; the said retaining member being adapted to press upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base and thereby exert a lever force on said gripping member tending to rock it about an axis extending longitudinally oi1 the rail base.

40. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped rail gripping member having jaws for embracing the base of a rail at points spaced longitudinally of the rail with relation to each other, provided with a fulcrum seat and with a stop, a retaining member having a loop portion, said member being supported on said fulcrum seat and engaging said stop and adapted to press upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base to exert a turning pressure on said gripping member to force it into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base, said retaining member being movable in its longitudinal direction, relatively to. the gripping member, into spring clamping engagement with the gripping member Jaws.

41. A rail lanchor being in effect a unitary structure and comprising a rail gripping member including spaced seat portions and a retaining member including a spring portion located, in iexed state, between the seat portions of said gripping member, said members being formed for interlocking engagement in relative positions of readiness for assembly to a rail and adapted to be held in such interlocked engagement by the reflex action of the spring portion against the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling of rail anchors and relatively movable by force into operative engagement with a rail.

42. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with converging surfaces between which the other member is wedgingly engaged when the anchor is separate from a rail, whereby the members are held against separation by the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors.

43. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with upper and lower converging surfaces between which the other member is wedgingly engaged when the anchor is separate from a rail, said surfaces being so disposed as to hold the members relatively to one another in positions of readiness -for assembly to a rail.

44. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with upwardly converging surfaces between which the other member is wedgingly engaged when the anchor is separate from a rail, the compressive forces resulting from such engagement being exerted in lines which will extend longitudinally of a rail when theanchor is applied thereto` 45. .A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with converging surfaces between which the other member is wedgingly engaged when the anchor is separate from a rail, the compressive forces resulting from such engagement being exerted in lines which will be substantially normal to the plane of a rail base when the anchor is applied thereto.

46. In a rail anchor, a U-shaped clamp member including a pair of arms each notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and a web connecting the arms, the said arms being formed between the notches and web with shoulders arranged in convergent relation to the web.

47. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with converging surfaces between which the other member is wedgingly engaged with flexion thereof when the anchor is separate from a rail, whereby the reflex action of said flexed member maintains such frictional engagement of the members that they are held against separation by the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors.

48. A rail anchor comprising two members retainable in interlocked engagement when separate from a rail by forces exerted by each member acting on the other.

49. A rail anchor including two interlocked members so formed and co-related that one member exerts compressive force on the other member and the last said member exerts expansive force on the rst said member to augment the compressive force exerted by iirst said member, the exertion of said forces serving to maintain the members in interlocked relation.

50. A rail anchor including two members relatively movable into interlocked relation separate from a rail, said members being so formed that by relative movement one member exerts compressive force on the other member and the last said member exerts expansive force on the rst said member to augment the compressive force exerted by the first said member, the exertion of said forces serving to maintain the members in interlocked relation.

51. A rail anchor consisting of two members corelated in interlocked engagement and exerting external contractile and internal expansive forcesi which lock said members together independentlyl means with semi-rigidity' in their assembled relation independently of a rail.

53. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member including portions spaced in the longitudinal direction of a rail and adapted to engage one flange of a rail base; a retaining 'member located at one end between said spaced portions and movable in its longitudinal direction 'between said spaced portions and engageable at its other end with the other rail base flange, and means on said rail gripping member overlying and underlying the retaining member and in close frictional engagement therewith and serving to resist relative movement of the members assembled separate from a rail.

54. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member including portions spaced in the longitudinal direction of a rail and adapted to engage one ange of a rail base and a seat between said spaced portions; a retaining'member located at one end between said spaced portions and engaging said seat and engageable at'its other end with the other rail base flange, said retaining member being movable in its longitudinal direction relatively to said rail gripping member to effect operative engagement with a rail; the said spaced portions of the gripping member urging the retaining member against said seat when the anchor is separate from a rail.

55. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable members adapted to grippingly embrace a rail base between them, one of said members including a seat portion for Vthe other :member and surface portions connected to said seat portion and converging away from'the seat portion,

said members being relatively movable to a position of readiness for assembly to a rail when separate from a rail and adapted when moved as aforesaid to be in such close frictional engagement as will hold them rigidly against relative movement by the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors, such frictional engagement resulting from intimate contact of the one member with the seat portion and converging surface portions of the other member.

56. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable members adapted to grippingly embrace a rail base between them, one of said members including a seat portion, and surface portions connected to the seat portion 'and converging away from the seat portion, and said other member being adapted for forcible assembly to the rst member separately from a rail in such wise that said other member is wedgingly engaged bea rail base between them, oneY of said members 10 including .a seat portion and arm portions connected to said seat portion, the spacing ofthe arms at the seat portion being greater than the spacing of the arms along lines remote from the seat portion, said members being'movable rela- 15' tively to one another thereby to establish when separate from a rail such close frictional engage'- ment of the one member `with the more closely Y spaced arm portions and the 0seat portion of the other member as will hold the members rigidly 20..

against relative movement by forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors.

58. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movableV members adapted to grippingly 25j embrace a rail base between them Yand adapted for assembly separately from a rail in close frictional engagement with one another, one of said members having means adapted to effect vertical compression of the other member, the mem- 3() bers being considered relatively to a rail as in positions of readiness for application thereto, the vertical compression resultant of the assembly' being such as will hold the members against relative movement by the forces ordinarily en- 351 countered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors, whereby the assembled members constitute a unit for purposes of handling, shipment and distribution.

59. A rail anchor comprising a pair of rela- 40 tively movable members adapted to grippingly embrace a rail base between them, one of said members including a seat portion and a further portion overhanging the seat portion in the normal position of the member, the other member 45 being adapted for wedging engagement with and between said seat portion and overhanging portion thereby to establish, when separate from a rail, such close frictional engagement of the members as will hold them against relative move- 50 ment by the forces ordinarily encountered in the handling, shipment and distribution of rail anchors. Y

FRANCIS W. COOPER. 

